A Tory frontbencher has publicly criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s plans for a “coalition of the willing” to keep the peace in Ukraine.

Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, said he was unconvinced by the proposals and suggested other Western nations would not play their part in any such force.

Kemi Badenoch welcomed a “coalition of the willing” at the start of the month, although the Conservatives have pivoted in the past few weeks to a more sceptical stance.

The Prime Minister has convened 30 nations to look at how Ukraine could defend itself in the event of a future peace deal, although his plans have been criticised by some military experts.

In an interview with The Telegraph’s Politics Newsletter, Mr Griffith was asked whether a “coalition of the willing” would accept UK command and control if European troops were deployed.

He replied: “Well, I’ll just be honest. I am sceptical about proposals for a pan-European coalition of the willing, because when the going gets tough, the willing don’t turn out to be that willing.

“Nor, at the current levels of funding, [which] the Conservatives have long called to be increased, do I see where the United Kingdom has excessive capability beyond defending our own needs that could be applied elsewhere.

“So I remain to be convinced, and to the question asked, I also remain to be convinced that a pan-European force would take UK leadership.”